Philipp Peter Roos (1657–1706)

• Later surnamed Rosa di Tivoli.
• Was a German Baroque painter.
• He was born in Sankt Goar.
• Learned to paint from his father, the landscape painter Johann Heinrich Roos.
• He was the brother of the painter Johann Melchior Roos.
• He was called to paint for Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, who liked him so much he gave him a sum of money to travel to Rome with, which he did in 1677.
• In Rome, he worked often in the studio of Giacinto Brandi.

• By 1681 had fallen in love with his daughter.

• In 1683, he joined a papal guild of painters, the Congregation of Virtuiosi al Pantheon.

• In 1684, he acquired a large house on Vicolo del Riserraglio in the Rione San Paolo in Tivoli, near Rome, whence his surname.

• In Tivoli, they kept a menagerie of various animals so Roos could draw from live poses.

• This house was called the "Noah's Ark" by their friends.

• In 1691, he moved back to Rome.

• He joined the Bentvueghels painters in the Schildersbent. 

• He had the nickname "Mercurius" because of the rapidity with which he painted; Mercury was the speedy messenger of Zeus.

• He earned money making small paintings and sketches for tourists.

• He died in poverty.

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